Don’t Ask For Mercy From The Villainess - Chapter 11. The Encounter With The Past

After Isanna dropped by, Jessica informed the name of the Baron to Anna. Anna nodded with a solemn look as she sensed the seriousness of this matter at the way her lady spoke, even when she told Anna to not go there right away, instead she should take a vacation before returning or went there in the middle of her vacation.

“I have been thinking one day that I would be important to you, this is it!”

“Anna, I mean…”

Jessica closed her mouth when she saw Anna’s eyes were gleaming with determination, although she wanted to say that it wasn’t really important at first.

‘You have to keep getting my orders from now on.’

Jessica, who thought there was no need to stop Anna as the girl was shining with a lot of ambition, entrusted the matter and her face to Anna.

“Your face has been shining lately, my lady.”

She used to have a beautiful face. However, in her previous life, there was always a dark shadow on her face. Her mother’s sickness and father’s absence made her crave affection from others.

The delicate girl, who looked at others with pleading eyes before, had vanished somewhere and the only soul left was a noble woman filled with pride, therefore her face was meant to shine.

“Is that so?”

“Yes, yes.”

Anna, who was surprised as if she didn’t expect Jessica would give a response, smiled and nodded her head with flushed cheeks. Anna was delighted because it was the first time Jessica responded to her with a personal talk, not an order.

“Anna. My hair is too glamorous.”

“You don’t like it? The Marchioness gave it to you because it’ll look pretty on you…”

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Jessica’s eyes subsided at Anna’s words.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”

“It’s okay.”

Jessica looked at her face through the mirror. The handcrafted decoration, which was inserted on her head was a silver accessory in a freesia flower shape which was favored by her mother. The interesting part of the decoration was that the narrow silver yarn under the freesia flower dangling under it hung right from behind the ear. The decoration sparkled glamorously as it mingled with her golden hair.

“Pretty.”

The silver yarn hung down under her ears gave a different feeling. Jessica sent Anna out after she got a compliment, saying she wanted to be alone because she had to read a book.

As she remained inside the room after Anna left, Jessica felt the need to organize her thoughts. She filled her mind by repeating the series of events that happened before her return.

Her thoughts carried on constantly, and the page in front of Jessica didn’t get turned over until Anna came to call her and said it was already lunch time.

***

That afternoon, Jessica gave Anna a break. Actually, Anna’s family lived in an area far from the marquisate, but it took quite a while to get there, so she gave her one month vacation before coming back. Jessica said to Anna that she was going to be fine.

“When you go home, you have to move out first.”

“Move out?”

“Your house is small. Go get a bigger house.”

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Jessica handed over the purse she had set aside for Anna and asked her escort, Walter, to send her off. It would’ve been unlikely to happen in such a safe capital, but just in case she gets her money stolen on the way.

“Young lady…”

Jessica forced Anna, who had tears in her eyes, to look at her.

“Make sure to deposit it to the Imperial Bank after buying a house with that money and move out.”

“Thank you very much!”

Anna often scurried away as if she were worried that someone would’ve grabbed her from behind as she was worried about what would happen to her without being on her lady’s side.

After confirming that she had been leaving the mansion, Jessica turned away with her gaze directed to the window only after the maid replacing Anna came in.

‘Yeah, you must have been there.’

Jessica spoke up in a soft voice as she looked at the maid who bowed down in front of her.

“Raise your head.”

“It’s Daisy, who will be serving the Young Lady from today.”

The butler who had brought Daisy introduced her to Jessica. Jessica gave a slight nod. She knew the child well.

The servant was clinging to her and told her secret to the marquis’ wife after she came into the marquisate. She also took the lead in harassing Jessica and contributed to Anna’s death.

Daisy.

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Upon her return, she thought it was strange when she couldn’t see the girl while managing the marquisate, but she didn’t expect to face her like this.

“She was hired urgently as Anna’s representative.”

“What about the current maid?”

“Obviously, they have to prepare for Young Lady’s debutante!”

‘So that’s what happened.’

Anna had been away from Jessica for a while before. Anna went to her hometown in a hurry because there was a big fire at home. As it turned out, the fire was set up by a nobleman who hated the community in order to destroy the town where commoners lived, and they were petered out as usual. That was why Jessica asked Anna to move out after recalling that fact.

“I should’ve said that you don’t have to work so hard, butler.”

“No! We are proceeding within the budget, therefore you don’t have to worry!”

After saying so, the butler left with an excuse that he was busy. Actually, he was afraid that Jessica would’ve  cut his budget even more, so he had to run away.

“Are you Daisy?”

“That’s right, my lady.”

“Let’s become good friends.”

Daisy didn’t get to see Jessica’s cold eyes because she bowed deeply once again at her lady’s words.

“How dare you betray the marquisate?”

She must’ve entered this place with such an intention from the beginning. Jessica’s cold eyes became warm like the spring sunshine when Daisy raised her head. It was a relief that she didn’t have any particular agendas today. Because she wouldn’t have to leave the marquisate.

‘There’s no need for me to walk around with this girl.’

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Just the thought alone could make her feel uncomfortable. She would have to be stuck with this maid and carry along a person who informed all of her moves to someone else.

“Let’s go.”

Jessica got up from her seat. The shaking sound could be heard as the freesia flower-shaped decorations clashed against each other that was as clear as the sound of a bell. The sound, which was heard throughout the hallway, seemed to indicate that she existed here. She felt like she was alive again.

The memories rushed back to Jessica’s head only after she heard that sound again after a long time. She used to wear this hair ornament often in her younger days. She felt better every time her head was adorned with it and because of its clear swaying sound. The reason why she didn’t ever wear this decoration was because of Darten. Jessica’s eyes darkened at the sudden thought.

“How long are you going to use that childish ornament?”

At that word, Jessica then put her precious hair ornament deep inside the drawer. When she found out about this later, it had already disappeared somewhere. Someone was checking on her jewelry box and left the marquisate without being able to find the culprit.

“Jessica!”

Jessica suddenly stopped walking when she heard the voice from behind. She wondered why she had to hear this voice here.

“Oh, right.’

She finally remembered why she fell for Darten. He was one of those who stayed by the Marchioness of Viterne’s side, who was laid sick, on behalf of the marquis who had to go to the border. It was something she would have figured out even if she thought about it just for a bit. That there was no hint of kindness in his eyes.

“You came, Your Highness.”

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When she bowed down and offered courtesy to the Imperial Family, Darten reached out his hand and tried to help Jessica back on her feet. She pulled back slightly when sensing his touch and straightened her back. Darten couldn’t take his eyes off Jessica’s face the moment she raised her head, and he cleared his throat before flashing her a smile.

“I apologize since I didn’t have a chance to come to the Marchioness’ funeral. His Majesty called me that time.”

“It’s fine.”

Darten has never officially shown his feelings to Jessica. It was the same this time. Her mother died, but Darten didn’t even stop by the marquisate even though he oftenly paid a visit.

Jessica should have removed her cherished hair ornaments and kept it knowing the fact that he came to visit her frequently when there were just a few people.

Jessica looked around after answering in a monotonous voice to him with an apologetic expression. There were extremely few people seen in the mansion today.

Marquis Viterne was leading the Knights to go out of the capital in order to guard the territory, and Alter, who had been escorting her, had yet to return. Darten might’ve come to the marquisate after getting that information.

“What brought you here, Your Highness?”

“What happened? I came to see you here like usual.”

At Darten’s words that sounded casual, Jessica struggled to control her expression. The corners of her mouth which she pulled upward in order not to show her hardened face, felt like trembling.

Out of all things, the fan that she used to carry in her hand every day was currently broken, so she couldn’t use anything to cover up her face. Darten whispered hesitatingly upon noticing her strange expression.

“Perhaps, were you mad? Because I didn’t come to you?”

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“It can’t be. However, my heart was still aching because it hasn’t been long since my mother died.”

Jessica lowered her eyes as she tried hard to smile. The sun shone between the two as they stood next by the window of the long hallway and talked to each other. The flickering golden light, which carefully fell over her eyelashes, moved smoothly like a swaying butterfly. Darten’s heart fluttered at her slender appearance.

He had seen Jessica every time, but it was his first time today to feel like this.

He thought she had a beautiful face. Jessica has one of the most beautiful women’s faces in the empire. But he thought it was just that. The dreary atmosphere surrounding here has not yet disappeared. He would’ve even felt depressed if he was standing next to Jessica, therefore Darten always kept his distance from her.

However, the Jessica that he saw today was quite different from before. The dreary atmosphere was still similar to before, but there was something from her that could captivate the man’s heart with those sparkling eyes on her sorrowful face. Jessica smiled inwardly after checking on Darten’s quivering gaze.

“Hm, is it that hard? Even though there’s me staying by your side?”

“Your Highness.”

“I feel awkward when you call me like that… Can’t you call me like before?”

Jessica almost scowled when he asked her to call him by his nickname. However, he also had a flowery smile on his face which drew a light roll of tongue from her.

“I can’t call Your Highness by your nickname from now on.”